The capitol building remains a landmark in the city of Madison despite the decades of vandalism and looting it has suffered. The Capitol and it's surrounding lawns is now home to the largest market in the city. In the spirit of the farmer's markets of years past, people flocked here to stake a claim for their booths and trade here is brisk. You can find nearly anything here; food, tools, spare parts and old electronics. Many small vendors stake their claim in semi-permanent shacks on the lawns where they live and do business. More wealthy established vendors have acquired larger, well built enclosure on the square. The highest end shops are inside the Capitol building itself so they can maintain good business throughout the coldest winter months.
Inside the Capitol a number of individual owners have come together to store their goods in larger, well protected rooms. As much of a hippie mecca that Madison often appears to be, desperate people will steal when they can, so there is a definite need for vendors of all sizes to protect their goods. One of the largest groups has begun to pressure smaller vendors to store their goods in their "warehouses." This group charges very high protection fees and rumors abound that they coerce people to agree then skim products off the top, in addition to the protection fees.
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Inside the Capitol a number of individual owners have come together to store their goods in larger, well protected rooms. As much of a hippie mecca that Madison often appears to be, desperate people will steal when they can, so there is a definite need for vendors of all sizes to protect their goods. One of the largest groups has begun to pressure smaller vendors to store their goods in their "warehouses." This group charges very high protection fees and rumors abound that they coerce people to agree then skim products off the top, in addition to the protection fees.